Status of EPA Research and Development on PFAS
The following webpage is historic and is no longer being updated.
Latest PFAS research information
EPA researchers are working on a wide range of activities to help understand PFAS and reduce risks to the public. This page contains anticipated internal timelines that EPA is using to track planned research activities. These timelines are subject to change. See EPA's main PFAS research page for more information. Last update: October 19, 2021.
On this page:
- Methods to Detect and Quantify PFAS
- Assessing PFAS Human Toxicity
- Assessing PFAS Ecological Toxicity
- Researching PFAS Exposure
- Drinking Water Treatment Options
- Cleaning Up and Managing PFAS Contamination
- Extramurally Funded Projects
Methods to Detect and Quantify PFAS - EPA researchers are developing and validating laboratory methods to detect and quantify selected PFAS in air, water, and soil.
| Title | Description | Status | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Method 537.1 | Method 537.1 is a validated method for measuring 18 PFAS in drinking water. | Complete. Method 537.1 replaces Method 537. | Access the final method here. |
| SW846 Method 8327 | SW-846 Method 8327 is a validated method for measuring 24 PFAS in groundwater, surface water, and wastewater samples. | Complete. Method formally incorporated into the SW-846 Compendium. | Access the method here. |
| CWA Method 1633 |
EPA is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Defense to develop and validate an isotope dilution method for non-drinking water aqueous matrices (surface water, groundwater, wastewater influent/effluent, landfill leachate), fish tissues, biosolids, soils, and sediments. |
Draft method available. Multi-laboratory validation is underway. | Access the draft method here. |
| OTM-45 |
OTM-45 is a method for measuring 50 PFAS in air emissions from stationary sources. Other Test Methods (OTM) have been reviewed by EPA and have been found to be potentially useful to the emission measurement community. OTMs have not been subject to the Federal rulemaking process. |
Complete. EPA intends for the scientific community to provide feedback on OTM-45. EPA will consider and incorporate feedback to keep improving the method. |
Access the method here. |
| PFAS Source (Air) Emission Measurement Methods | Refined methods to measure and characterize PFAS in emissions from stationary sources. | Candidate methods for evaluation/validation expected 2022. | No further information at this time. |
| PFAS Atmospheric Deposition Sampling Methods | Sampling methods to measure atmospheric deposition of PFAS. | This work is in its early stages. | No further information at this time. |
| Total PFAS Methods | Total PFAS methods aim to quantify large groups of PFAS in environmental samples. | Draft adsorbable organic fluorine method for wastewater under consideration for validation. | No further information at this time. |
Assessing PFAS Human Toxicity - EPA researchers are developing human health toxicity reference values for specific PFAS where sufficient scientific data exist. EPA researchers are also applying computational and high throughput toxicology tools for PFAS toxicity testing on a larger scale.
| Title | Description | Status/Timeline | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human Health Toxicity Assessment for PFBS | The toxicity assessment is a written summary of the potential health effects associated with PFBS and identifies the dose levels at which those health effects may occur in order to calculate toxicity values. | Complete. | Access the final assessment here. |
| IRIS Assessments for PFBA, PFHxA, PFDA, PFHxS, and PFNA | IRIS assessments identify and characterize the health hazards of chemicals found in the environment. |
Draft IRIS assessment for PFBA released for public comment and peer review. Latest schedule is available in the IRIS Program Outlook. |
|
| PFAS Chemical Library | A chemical library of known PFAS to aid testing for environmental decision-making. States can request access to samples of PFAS to use for method validations and/or research. |
The library chemicals are now available. |
|
| Tier 1 Toxicity Testing |
High-throughput toxicity testing on ~120 different PFAS chemicals, representing a range of PFAS. Work will yield information for prioritizing chemicals for further testing and to inform possible categorization. |
Ongoing. |
Learn more about EPA’s high throughput research here. |
| Prioritization of PFAS for Additional Toxicity Testing |
PFAS will be prioritized for additional toxicity testing based on the results of the Tier 1 testing and/or the availability of other human health toxicity data. |
Additional testing is being planned using EPA's National PFAS Testing Strategy. | Access the National Testing Strategy Here. |
Assessing PFAS Ecological Toxicity - EPA researchers are studying the effects of PFAS on ecological systems.
| Title | Description | Status/Timeline | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECOTOX Knowledgebase | This database contains information that can be used by scientists to identify potentially susceptible species, understand bioaccumulation, and support decisions to protect ecosystems. | Ongoing. | As of September 2021, EPA has updated the ECOTOX Knowledgebase to include ecotoxicologically relevant effect records for 159 PFAS in 600 species. Access ECOTOX here. |
| Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) | Development of putative AOPs for PPAR signaling (fish) and thyroid dysfunction (avian). | Expected 2023. | |
| Bioaccumulation Models in Fish | Review literature, generate data, and develop updated PFAS bioaccumulation models in fish. | Evaluation of published bioconcentration factor (BCF) and bioaccumulation factor (BAF) data for PFAS across aquatic species published February 2021 | Access the published paper here. |
Researching PFAS Exposure - EPA researchers are measuring PFAS in air, drinking water, soils, etc., to understand how and to what degree people might be exposed to PFAS.
| Title | Description | Status/Timeline | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| CompTox Chemicals Dashboard – PFAS Chemicals | A curated list of PFAS data that includes physicochemical properties, environmental fate and transport data, toxicity data, and more. This is in EPA’s CompTox Chemicals Dashboard, which is a first-stop shop for chemistry, toxicity, and exposure information for ~900,000 chemicals. | Ongoing. | The Dashboard currently contains information on PFAS substances organized by various lists. See more information on these chemicals here. |
| PFAS Fate and Transport Case Study | Study of PFAS fate and transport around Fayetteville, NC. This work will advance the understanding of how PFAS moves through the environment. |
Complete. Emissions, transport and deposition from a fluoropolymer manufacturing facility published 2021. |
Access the published paper here. |
| American Healthy Homes Survey Dataset on PFAS in Homes | Lab analysis of water, dust, and soil found in homes. In collaboration with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. | This work is in its early stages. | No further information at this time. |
| Exposure Analysis | Develop a framework for comparative exposure analysis. | Expected 2022. | No further information at this time. |
| Human Exposure Model | Develop and apply a multi-media human exposure model to selected PFAS. This work will help estimate human exposures to PFAS. |
Expected 2022. Human exposure pathways to PFAS from indoor media: A systematic review protocol published 2021. |
Access the systematic review protocol here. |
Drinking Water Treatment Options - EPA researchers are evaluating different drinking water treatment technologies that can remove certain PFAS from drinking water systems.
| Title | Description | Status/Timeline | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot-scale Water Treatment for PFAS | Manuscripts on the efficacy of drinking water treatment methods at the pilot scale. | Expected 2022. | No further information at this time. |
| Drinking Water Ion Exchange Treatment Performance Models | Drinking water treatability manuscripts and corresponding models for ion exchange (IX). | Avoiding pitfalls when modeling removal of PFAS by anion exchange published 2021. | Access the published paper here. |
| Drinking Water Point of Use and Point of Entry Devices | Studies on the efficacy of off-the-shelf, commercially-available household water treatment systems. Studies will evaluate granular activated carbon (GAC), reverse osmosis (RO), and ion exchange (IX) treatment systems. | Studies for GAC and RO systems are complete. The IX study is underway, and EPA expects to complete the study in 2022. | GAC and RO study available here. EPA also published a plain-language article about this work in EPA’s Science Matters. Learn more about GAC, RO, and IX treatment methods in this Science Matters article. |
| Drinking Water Treatability Database | Evaluation of technologies for removal of PFAS from drinking water. Will include performance and cost data, as well as models and tools to help communities determine optimal treatment choices. | Ongoing. | As of May 2021, EPA has updated the Database with information on treatment information for 36 PFAS chemicals. Access the Drinking Water Treatability Database here. |
| Reactivation of PFAS-Laden Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) | Identification of operating parameters for reactivation of GAC after removal of PFAS from water. In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense. | Expected 2023. |
No further information at this time. Note that this includes studying incineration of spent GAC in collaboration with DoD, which was previously listed as a separate item. |
| Destruction of Ion Exchange (IX) Treatment Materials in Kiln Furnaces | Investigation into the feasibility of destroying PFAS ion exchange treatment materials in kiln furnaces. | Expected 2022. |
No further information at this time. Note that this includes studying incineration of spent IX materials in collaboration with DoD, which was previously listed as a separate item. |
Cleaning Up and Managing PFAS Contamination- EPA researchers are characterizing how disposal approaches, such as landfills and incinerators, might contribute to PFAS in the environment to aid in cleanup efforts. EPA researchers are also developing methods for characterizing PFAS releases and movement in soil, water, and sediments at contaminated sites.
| Title | Description | Status/Timeline | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal Treatment of PFAS in soil | Studying the emissions and evaluating the efficacy of thermal treatment/removal of PFAS found in soil. In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense. | Draft report expected in 2021. | No further information at this time. |
| Performance and Cost Models for Groundwater Remediation | Performance and cost models for remediation options. This will help communities and site managers make informed choices in cleaning up PFAS-contaminated sites. In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense. | Expected 2022. |
EPA an DoD published a book chapter on this work, and EPA expects to release cost models in 2022. Book chapter citation: Burkhardt, J.B., R.H. Anderson, R. Khera, L.M. Haupert, P. Ransom, D.G. Wahman, P. Jordan, J.G. Pressman, M.A. Mills and T.F. Speth, (2021) “Modeling Water Treatment Performance and Costs for Removal of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances from Drinking Water”, Chapter 15 – Forever Chemicals: Environmental, Economic, and Social Equity Concerns with PFAS in the Environment" edited by Racz, L. and Kempisty, D., published by Taylor & Francis (CRC Press) |
| Fate and Management of PFAS in Land-Applied Biosolids | Research producing multiple manuscripts to understand PFAS fate and levels in biosolids and potential management options. | Expected 2023. |
No further information at this time. |
| Incineration of PFAS Materials | Studies on how PFAS materials could be incinerated as a method of disposal. |
Low temperature thermal treatment of gas-phase fluorotelomer alcohols by calcium oxide published June 2021. Analysis of fate of PFAS during incineration released April 2021. |
Access the published papers here and here. A technical brief on Incineration to Manage PFAS Waste Streams is available here. |
| Thermal Treatment of PFAS in Biosolids | Report on the thermal treatment of PFAS contaminated biosolids. | Expected 2022. | No further information at this time. |
| PFAS in Landfill Leachate | Summary of treatment approaches for PFAS in landfill leachate, which include liquids and gases that are emitted from landfills. | Expected 2022. | No further information at this time. |
| PFAS and Vapor Intrusion | Report on subsurface migration potential of PFAS into buildings and residences. | Expected 2022. |
No further information at this time. |
| Title | Description | Status/Timeline | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grants to Support Research on PFAS Impacts in Rural Communities and Agricultural Operations | Research to better understand the potential impacts of PFAS on water quality and availability in rural communities and agricultural operations across the United States. | Research grants awarded in 2020. Project completion dates are in 2023. | |
| Grants to Support Research on Practical Methods to Analyze and Treat Emerging Contaminants (PFAS) in Solid Waste, Landfills, Wastewater/Leachates, Soils, and Groundwater to Protect Human Health and the Environment | Research to promote innovation in evaluating and managing PFAS in solid waste, landfills, and environmental media that will lead to improved decision making, management practices, and technical methods to minimize the risks to both humans and ecosystems. | Research grants awarded in 2019. Project completion dates are in 2022. | |
| Grants to Support Research on Water Quality and Availability Challenges of PFAS | Research to better understand the impacts of PFAS on water quality and availability across the United States. | Research grants awarded in 2019. Project completion dates are in 2022. | Learn more about the grant projects. |